Teachers’ and Group Leaders’ Training Course

for mowing instructors, group leaders or those wanting to perfect their scythe skills

Thursday 14 to Saturday 16 June at Muchelney, Somerset

culminating in the West Country Scythe Fair on Sunday 17 June

The Teacher’s Training Course held in the days running up to the West Country Scythe Festival is without doubt the best course to attend if you want to master the use of the scythe and demonstrate its use to other people, whether in a professional context or informally. It also provides an unusual holiday on a pleasant site in the Somerset Levels.

We bring scythe and yoga expert Christiane Lechner over from Austria, while peening is taught by Phil Batten, winner of last year’s “Quality Cup”. Simon Fairlie and Steve Tomlin also assist with tuition and on Saturday there are workshops headed by other scythe teachers and experts from around Britain.

The course is designed for people who wish to become scythe teachers, or people who are working as group leaders of teams of volunteers or employees. However the course will be useful for anyone who wants to achieve mastery of using and maintaining a scythe. Anyone can attend the course provided they have already completed a beginners course and/or acquired basic scything skills.

Programme

On Thursday and Friday we will run you through the entire process of using and maintaining a scythe — setting up snath and blade angles, mowing stance and movement, sharpening, peening, repairing, health and safety etc — but at each point we also examine the best way of conveying this information to beginners. We also cover how to run a course and organize a group of novices or volunteers in the field.

On Saturday morning you will have the opportunity to practice teaching novices, under the supervision of the tutors. In the afternoon there are a series of workshops on peening, haymaking, grassland management, mowing wheat, the traditional English scythe etc.

On Sunday you have free entry to the West Country Scythe Fair, a busy event comprising the mowing championship, other scythe and haymaking events, music, speakers, kids area, craft area, over 70 stalls, local food and beer and cider.

Certification

This course is approved by the Scythe Association of Britain and Ireland, which is the only body of its kind in the UK. You will receive a certificate of attendance, which may be of value in the event of health and safety or insurance issues arising.

Site and Facilities

The course includes lunch on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and free entry for the Scythe Fair on Sunday. In order to keep costs down, self-catering facilities with a supply of basic food stuffs are provided for breakfast and the evening meal — or you can go out to eat in a local pub or restaurant.

The course takes place at Thorney Lakes Caravan Site, a pleasant rural location on the Somerset Levels. There is camping and caravan space on site at a cost of £10 per pitch, (so you can bring your family with you). See Thorney Lakes website: http://www.thorneylakes.co.uk/ Alternatively we can direct you to bed and breakfast nearby.

How to Register for the Course

The price for attendance is £135 for individuals or £160 for representatives of organizations. To register for the course, or for more information, please contact Simon Fairlie, 01297 561359 chapter7@tkio.org.uk